A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Your Guide To This Summer's Outdoor Concerts: Flee Your A.C.

11 photos

Williamsburg Waterfront Concert Series Though the <a href="http://gothamist.com/tags/poolparties">Jelly pool parties</a> have been relegated to hazy nostalgia, there will in fact be 15 shows on the Williamsburg waterfront this year, ten ticketed, and five free. So buck up: the Open Space Alliance and T-Mobile are working hard to make sure you're a sweaty, happy mess once again. Ticketed shows are starred, and tickets free of service charges can be bought at The Best Buy Theater Box Office in Manhattan or Sound Fix records in Brooklyn, or <a href="http://www.aeglive.com/">here,</a> with a service charge. June 11 Coheed & Cambria, Adrian Belew Power Trio, Tigers Jaw June 24 *Thievery Corporation, with Special Guests July 6 *Kid Cudi & Chip the Rapper July 29 They Might Be Giants, Eugene Mirman & Kristen Schaal plus Guests August 2*Death Cab For Cutie and Frightened Rabbit August 12 *Sonic Youth and Wild Flag August 31 *Bright Eyes September 17 *Widespread Panic

Gothamist

<a href="www.rivertorivernyc.com">River to River Festival 2011</a> Now in its 10th season, this festival series is 100% free, based around lower Manhattan, and focuses on "putting a spotlight on artists who are synonymous with New York City." This year features budding indie scenesters like Lower Dens alongside New York stalwarts Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson. June 19 Bang on a Can Marathon, Featuring Philip Glass, Sun Ra, and Bryce Dessner of The National @ Arts World Financial Center June 22 Rebecca Jordan @ Zuccotti Park June 29 Chrisette Michele @ Rockefeller Park July 1 Lower Dens and Dirty Beaches @ South Street Seaport July 3 The Hairs @ Fulton Stall Market July 8 The Wake and Weekend @ South Street Seaport July 14 Patti Smith @ Castle Clinton July 15 The Radio Dept. and Asobi Seksu @ South Street Seaport

Gothamist

<a href="http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/news/features/detail.aspx?id=8590">The Met's Summer Recital Series</a> For those who best enjoy their opera amongst the trees and hot dog carts and away from the rarefied air of the Lincoln Center, the Met's Summer Recital Series will bring sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, tenors and bass-baritones to all five boroughs. Swap the opera glasses for a blanket and a bottle. July 11 Central Park Summerstage, Manhattan July 13 Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn July 19 Crotona Park, Bronx July 21 Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island July 26 Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens July 28 Jackie Robinson Park, Manhattan

Gothamist

<a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/">Lincoln Center Out of Doors</a> Similarly, if you've always yearned for the Lincoln Center's musical programming, but without the tuxedos and extended pinkies, Lincoln Center Out of Doors (because "Outdoors" is so pedestrian) has you covered. July 27 Billy Bragg: Big Busk Open Rehearsal @ TBD and Damrosch Park Bandshell July 30 Ponderosa Stomp: Girl Group Extravaganza, Featuring Members of the Chantels, The Crystals, The Toys, and more @ Damrosch Park Bandshell July 31 Mavis Staples @ Damrosch Park Bandshell August 3 Asphalt Orchestra @ Lincoln Center Plazas August 4 Raya Brass Band @ Broadway Plaza August 6 La Casita: Music & Spoken Word @ Hearst Plaza Stage August 10 Spike's Side Show: Featuring Jazz, Acrobats, Contortionists, Magicians, and more @ Lincoln Center Plazas August 10 Laurie Anderson and Friends @ Damrosch Park Bandshell August 11 The Family Stone: Prophets of Funk @ Damrosch Park Bandshell August 13 Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives @ Damrosch Park Bandshell August 14 Steve Cropper and Friends, North Mississippi Allstars Duo @ Damrosch Park Bandshell

Gothamist

<a href="http://www.summerstage.org/">Summerstage 2011</a> As always, these shows take over the city's green spaces and are all 100% free, thanks to AT&T. All except for the starred events, which are benefits that you shouldn't grumble about paying for, because it's a good cause. Kick back and let AT&T drop all your calls for maximum enjoyment. June 7 Yo-Yo Ma, The Silkroad Ensemble @ Central Park June 7 EPMD and Funkmaster Flex, Salute to Hip-Hop @ Betsy Head Park June 11 Blue Note Jazz Festival: Medeski, Martin, & Wood, Josh Roseman & The King Froopy Allstars, Jim Black's AlasNoAxis @ Central Park June 21 Taleb Kweli @ Red Hook Park June 22 Reggie Watts, Natasha Leggero @ Central Park June 23 We Are Scientists, Milagres @ Red Hook Park June 24 Reggie Watts, DJ Stormin' Norman @ Red Hook Park June 24 *Florence and the Machine, Twin Shadow and Bubbles @ Central Park June 25 Lee Fields & The Expressions, Fitz & The Tantrums, Andreya Triana, Rich Medina @ Central Park June 28 The Moth, Hosted by Andy Borowitz with stories by Pam Grier and other special guests @ Central Park June 29 Jim Gaffigan, John Pinette, Comedy Central Park @ Central Park June 29 Larry Harlow and Latin Legends Band @ Soundview Park July 2 Roy Ayers and The Jazz Mafia Symphony, "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" @ Central Park July 6 Jarabe de Palo, Ely Guerra, Novalima, Mr. Pauer @ Central Park July 11 Manhattan Opera Summer Recital Series @ Central Park July 12 Slick Rick, DJ Brucie B @ Crotona July 13 *Ratatat @ Central Park July 17 Pink Martini @ Central Park July 18 *Emmylou Harris and Levon Helm @ Central Park July 19 Kool Moe Dee @ Queensbridge July 25 *Wiz Khalifa @ Central Park July 27 Wanda Jackson, Imelda May @ Central Park August 1 *Lykke Li @ Central Park August 2 Sugarhill Gang @ Tappen Park August 6 Shelebration! A Tribute to the Works of Shel Silverstein, produced by Hal Willner @ Central Park August 7 Friendly Fires, The Naked And Famous, Cults @ Central Park August 13 Henry Santos @ Central Park August 18 Andy Andy @ Highbridge Park August 21 Rakim, EPMD, Funkmaster Flex @ Central Park August 24 The Cold Crush Brothers @ East River Park August 25 Wavves @ East River Park August 27 Toots Thielemans, James Carter, Tia Fuller, CÃ©cile McLorin Salvant, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival @ Marcus Garvey Park August 28 Jagged Edge, Avant, Melanie Fiona @ Central Park

Gothamist

<a href="http://www.thelmagazine.com/blogs/NorthsideFestivalNews/">Northside Festival 2011</a> L Magazine's Northside Festival is an annual look at "what's next" at the "center of the universe" (AKA Brooklyn). Set in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, Northside is a massive four-day celebration of the city's "dreamer types" at venues indoors and out. This year's outdoor offerings are set in a schmancy new 5,000 capacity venue at McCarren Park. Alas, the festival and the shows <a href="http://www.thelmagazine.com/newyork/NFAttend/Page">aren't free</a>, but with this sort of talent, all is forgiven. June 17 Beruit, Saron Van Etten June 18 Guided by Voices, Wavves, Surfer Blood, The Babies

Gothamist

Governor's Ball Festival 2011This year's gathering on Governor's Island features top-tier talent and no overlapping sets, which means less agonizing over who to see and more freedom to check out the various food carts that will be parked for the occasion. With Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Big Boi, Neon Indian, People Under the Stairs, Das Racist, Mac Miller, Miami Horror, Outasight, Reptar and Passion Pit

DJ Set

<a href="http://www.bricartsmedia.org/performing-arts/celebrate-brooklyn">Celebrate Brooklyn!</a> Because one festival celebrating the borough's coolness isn't enough, Celebrate Brooklyn! will feature a variety of free and ticketed benefit shows (starred) all summer long. Check back for updates to the schedule. May 12 Dance Party with Maceo Parker & DJ Spinna @ Brooklyn Bridge Park May 19 Dance Party with La Excelencia & Que Bajo?! @ Brooklyn Bridge Park May 26 Dance Party with Red Baraat & DJ Rekha @ Brooklyn Bridge Park June 10 Andrew Bird @ Prospect Park @ Prospect Park June 14 *The Decemberists @ Prospect Park @ Prospect Park June 17 The Books with Junip, Doveman @ Prospect Park June 25 The Heavy with The London Souls, Superhuman Happiness @ Prospect Park June 30 Justin Townes Earle with Punch Brothers, The Hackensaw Boys @ Prospect Park July 1 Steel Pulse with Natural Expression Rhythm Band @ Prospect Park July 8 Los Lobos with Hello Seahorse!, Zigmat @ Prospect Park July 9 Lyricist Lounge feat. Raekwon, Smif-n-Wessun, Joell Ortiz, and more @ Prospect Park July 12 *Animal Collective SOLD OUT@ Prospect Park July 16 Dan Zanes with the Brooklyn Youth Orchestra and Bed-Stuy Veterans @ Prospect Park July 23 The Feelies with Real Estate, Times New Viking @ Prospect Park August 2 *Sufjan Stevens @ Prospect Park August 5 Ra Ra Riot with Delicate Steve, Buke and Gass @ Prospect Park August 10 Bon Iver SOLD OUT @ Prospect Park August 11 *Cut Copy @ Prospect Park

Gothamist

<a href="http://riverrocksnyc.com/">Hudson River Park's RiverRocks</a> RiverRocks is entering its 13th year of bringing free outdoor concerts to New Yorkers. This year's big headliners are below, and all shows will be staged on Hudson River Park's Pier 54. July 14 tUnE-yArDs July 28 Metronomy August 11 Deer TIck

Gothamist

<a href="http://www.http://www.rockbeach.us/">Jelly's Rock Beach 2011</a> True, those Jelly-sponsored Williamsburg Waterfront shows were good while they lasted, but Jelly is back this year with an equally interesting premise: bands way out in south Brooklyn (Long Island?) with camping(!) Rock Beach will span 6 days in July, August and September at Floyd Bennet Field, New York's first airport that has been turned into a state park. We're told that camping will be available for the Saturday shows, and that the venue is able to hold 8,000 fans. In the true whimsical fashion of summer, we can tell you the bands and the dates, but not who's playing when, except for July 9th, which features: Penguin Prisons, Wild Yaks, Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang, and Monogold. What we can tell you is that the original line up (including The Strokes, Mobb Deep, JEFF The Brotherhood, etc.) which we leaked will not be there (that we know of), but the bill is still quite promising. And, it's all free (except for a $20 party bus ride) so, shut up. Penguin Prisons, Death Grips, Pictureplane, Danny Brown, The Death Set, Cerebral Ballzy, White Hills, Action Bronson, Bass Drum of Death, Wild Yaks, The Sosoglos, Delicate Steve, Wise Blood, Miracles Club, DYX, The Psychic Paramount, Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang, Monogold, Night Manager, Party Supplies, Dirty Finger, Maffew Regazino, Selebrities, Hunters, CSC Funk Band, Moon Dudes July 9 July 24 August 7 August 20 September 3 September 10

Gothamist

<a href="http://ps1.org/warmup/">MoMA's PS1 Warm Up 2011</a> And now, for the summer's most crowded free summer concerts, MoMA's PS1 Warm Up series, now in its 14th year. This year's lineups were curated by the folks from Stereogum, XL, and the co-founder of DFA Records among others. July 2 DJ Pierre, Beautiful Swimmers, Delicate Steve, Protect-U, Zoovox July 9 Four Tet, Falty DL, SBTRKT, Bronze, Matthewdavid, TURRBOTAX DJs July 16 Joakin, Koudlam, Mirror Mirror, with special guests July 30 Prince Language, Das Racist, Vockah Redu, Holy Other, XXXY August 6 Omar-S, Simian Mobile Disco, Beppe Loda, Steve Moore, Forma August 13 Black Dice, His Name Is Alive, oOoOO, Clams Casino, Ayshay, Water Borders August 20 Juan Maclean, Blood Orange, Solange, Pictureplane, Grimes, Ford & Lopatin August 27 Tanlines, Nguzunguzu, Teengirl Fantasy, Sun Araw, Physical Therapy September 3 The 2 Bears, Housemeat Disco, Midnight Magic, Justin Miller

Gothamist